This article was originally published at Conscious Magazine.

You've seen the movies, the books, and the television shows. You've scrolled through the Facebook posts and the Instagrams. You know what I'm talking about—the images of families that do not seem to look or act anything like yours. Just as you're struggling to pay the bills, pick Cheerios out of your hair, talk to Johnny about his report card, dive into work after the kids go to sleep, keep up with your emails, and make that appointment with your therapist—a friend uploads a picture of her Pinterest-worthy DIY project!

There seems to be a push and expectation that parenthood is graceful and easy, and that you'll raise wonderful kids if you do things "the right way." Well, don't believe your screens.

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Photo via Conscious Magazine / Mattea Photography

This article was originally published at Conscious Magazine.

As of May 31st, Chicago will be losing one of its greatest safety nets, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4). C4 serves over 10,000 children and adults annually and provides an array of mental health services from overcoming substance use to recovering from trauma. This is devastating news to a city with more than 14 percent of people living below the poverty line (60 percent in a number of neighborhoods) and with 53 percent of children ages 3-17 having one or more emotional, behavioral or developmental condition.